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World Telecommunication Day
History and Guidelines
Celebrated annually on 17 May, the Day commemorates the founding of the Union in 1865, under the name "International Telegraph Union", by the plenipotentiary representatives of 20 States signatories of the International Telegraph Convention - the first intergovernmental treaty for the regulation of international telegraphy.
World Telecommunication Day (WTD), which was held for the first time in 1969 as a result of a resolution of the Administrative Council, is held each year on 17 May. It was institutionalized by the Malaga-Torremolinos Plenipotentiary Conference (1973) and confirmed by the Nairobi Plenipotentiary Conference (1982), the Nice Plenipotentiary Conference (1989) and the Kyoto Plenipotentiary Conference (1994).
The Resolution adopted by the Plenipotentiaries has served as a guide as regards both the objectives to be achieved and the methods to be used.
Preparation of
World Telecommunication Day
The topics for World Telecommunication Day have been proposed each year by the Council but each Member State has been free to celebrate the Day in its own way and in accordance with national conditions.
To assist the organizers, a kit is prepared for each World Telecommunication Day and sent to the Members of the Union. It is made up as follows:
Posters illustrating the topic chosen for the Day, which are sent to administrations, associations, companies and any other entity on request.
A message from the Secretary-General of the ITU - on tape for radio and as a video for television - intended to be disseminated by administrations and United Nations Information Centres for public projections within the framework of special events as well as to be broadcast by television stations.
Dissemination of photographs which can be used to illustrate texts aimed at the media and other products such as the production of non-edited radio material consisting of sound tracks/effects and transcribed radio interviews with a view to suiting each broadcaster's needs and minimize production time
World Telecommunication Day Events
The success of World Telecommunications Day depends on the action taken by administrations in organizing it at the national level.
World Telecommunication Day is celebrated in different ways by Member States of the Union in line with national requirements:
lectures, seminars or symposia on the theme
round-table meetings, debates and interviews (in various locations and/or on television and radio)
local telecommunication exhibitions
dissemination of press information to the national/local media to raise awareness of the population and other community partners
"Open Days" at telecommunication centres or training centres
issue of special postage stamps
inauguration of telecommunication installations
youth competitions on selected topics
The national programme should aim at taking stock of telecommunication development in the perspective of the theme as well as stimulating reflection and the exchange of ideas.
At the international level, the ITU provides logistical support in the form of background information and promotional material. It also aims at raising media's interest in the event.